Typewriter-carrying case



June 17, 1930. w. E. BARNARD TYPEWRITER CARRYING CASE Filed April 23, 1927 3 SheetsSheet l Vl aZzfffiarizam IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

June 17, 1930. w, BARNARD 1,763,999

TYPEWRITER CARRYING CASE Filed April 25. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. H K JH u BY ATTORNEY.

June- 17, 1930. w, RD- 1,763,999

TYPEWRITER CARRYING CASE FiledApril 25, 1927 s Shee ts-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

' ATTORNEY. v

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER E. BARNARD, OF I'IHACA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BARB-MORSE CORPORA- TION, OF ITHAGA, NEW YORK, CORPORATION OI NEW-YORK TYPEWRITER-CARRYING CASE Application filed April 23, 1927. Serial No. 186,124.

This invention relates to carrying cases for typewriters and the like, and has for its objects the rovision of a simple, safe and convenient orm of case, which is at the same time adapted to eflicient manufacture. Another object of the invention is to arrange the elements of the structure so as to reduce the likelihood of accident or serious damage to the typewriter in case one of the securing parts breaks or is not properly locked. A further object is to use various structural parts for a double purpose, in the interests of simplicity and strength; to make the operation of the parts conform to natural and convenient motions; to reduce the danger of parts becoming bent or catching on clothing, and various other objects as will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this speci fication,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the top or front of the carrying case, showing the handle, lock and latches.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the Fig. 4 is an end elevation of cover and base separated, illustrating the manner of opening and closing the carrying case.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base, showing the latch plates, sockets, and socket hooks.

Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in cross-section, showing one of the sockets and the manner of fitting a foot of the typewriter therein.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts thruout the various views.

The general structure of the carrying case is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

The typewriter is normally attachedto the base 2 which forms one wall of the case, the other portion being the cover 3, which is shaped so that it may surround and cover the typewriter, and is provided with a handle showing the construction use, but in order that itmay be detached when desired, the feet 7 (see Fig. 6) of the typewriter are held by a conveniently located hook and socket system comprising a pair of sockets 8 and 8 for two of the feet of the typewriter and another pair of, sockets 9 and 9' for the other two feet of the typewriter. All four sockets are somewhat elongated so that the feet of the typewriter may slide longitudinally therein when the typewriter is being inserted or removed. Over the lower portion of each socket-that is, the portion that is downward when the'case is closed and being carried by the handle in avertical positionextends a forked member 10, which is preferably spaced from the base 2. The gap of the fork l0 isnarrower than the width of the socket 8 or 9, and adapted to engage each foot 7 of the typewriter around the neck portion 11, (as shown in Fig. 6) so that the typewriter cannot be lifted out directly, but must first be slid longitudinally alon the sockets 8, 8', 9, 9, so as to clear the for s 10. To hold the feet 7 from such longitudinal movement, so as to clamp them in place, hook elements 12 and 12 are provided for two of the sockets 9 and 9. The hook elements 12 and 12' are pivoted at 13 and 13 respectively, and are adapted to frictionally engage the surface of the fork members 10, which helps to hold the hooks in place. Onehook swings to the right and the other to the left when unhooking-both swinging outwardly from the typewriterso that the operator merely uses the thumbs of the right and left hands in a natural position when 'unhooking the dejar which might tend to unhook one hook would probably tend to tighten the other. In

all such devices such as a carrying case the problem is not only to provide a convenient and economical device which will serve its purpose satisfactorily when used as described, but also to guard against accidents or misuse as far as possible .so that even if the fastening devices provided become unhooked or are lost or broken, the typewriter will still be held in place in the case. Therefore, in

addition to providing the hooks with flat frictional engaging surfaces, and right and left hand motions, the fork members 10 are located over the lower or downward portion of the sockets, when the case is carried by the handle, so that the weight of the typewriter will tend to hold the feet 7 under the forks 10 even if the hooks 12, 12' become disconnected. This also tends to relieve the hooks from strain. Furthermore, the dimensions of the cover 3 are so proportioned that when it is in place the typewriter would strike a wall of the cover before the feet 7 could slide from under the fork members 10, so that, so long as the typewriter is in the case the feet 7 cannot possibly get out of the sockets 8, 8, 9, 9, regardless of the position in which the case is carriedeven if the hooks 12 and 12 should become unlocked.

In addition to the holding or clamping devices which have been described, the base 2 carries on its upper inside corners (when it is being carried in the vertical position) two metal plates 15 and 15 which are fastened in the corners of the base 2each plate 15, 15 having a slot 16, 16 therein, and the material of the base 2 being cut away under the slot and plate sufliciently to allow space for a hook to ass thru the slot and catch under the plate.

11 the upper wall 17 of the cover 3, at each side of the handle 6, is mounted a catch or hook device 18, 18' adapted to cooperate with the slotted plates 15, 15 described. The catch 18 consists of a hook 19, pivoted at 20 and partially enclosed in a frame 21 which extends substantially across the width of the upper wall of the cover and reinforces it somewhat for the carrying strains. A reinforcing piece 22 extends across under the handle and terminates close to the frames 21, 21'. A spring 23 within the frame 21 presses the hook 19 inward or away from the adjacent corner of the cover, and serves to keep the hook 19 engaged under the plate 15 when the case is closed. A retracting button 24 is attached to the hook 19 and extends thru a slot 25 to the inside of the case. The catch 18 is similar in construction to the catch 18 described, but it will be noted that it operates in the opposite direction to the catch 18- that is, both catches engage the base by moving inward toward the handle 6, and disengage by moving outward away from the handle 6, that is, they move toward each other to engage and away from each other to disengage the base 2. The purpose of this arrangement will be noted when a case is actually opened by hand, The retracting buttons 24, 24 fall naturally under the right and left hands respectively, and are retracted in opposite directions by using the thumbs. At the same time the adjacent corners of the cover 3 are gripped by the hands-the same natural motion that retracts the buttons 24, 24: also being the natural motion of gripping the cover 3. The result is that the cover is very simply unlocked and lifted without changing the position of the hands or using the handle 6. If the action of the buttons 21, 24' were in the other direction, the action of unhooking the catches would tend to weaken the grip of the operator on the corners and make it awkward to open. A key lock 26 is provided, by which one of the catches, such as 18, may be locked in place if desired. Any suitable type of lock may be used. In the form illustrated in Fig. 1, a sliding bolt 40 may be moved by turning a key, and locks into a notch in the latch member 19, suitable detent springs 41 holding the bolt from accidental movement.

Opposite the two catches 18, 18 there are located at the lower corners of the open face of the cover 3 two metal corner braces'30 and 30, each of which has a flange 31, 31'

These flanges 31, 31, which extendtoward each other, constitute means for securing the lower corners of the base 2 in place when the case is closed, and also are utilized somewhat in the nature of hinges when the case is being opened or closed. The rearward portion of the base 2, which becomes the lower portion of the base 2 when the case is closed, is beveled or rounded at 33 so as to slide over the flanges 31, 31' when the cover 3 is drawn over the typewriter, preparatory to closing the case. The base 2 is of courseslightly raised by the feet 5 so that it tends to clear the flanges 31, 31' as the case is closedthe width of thmflanges 31, 31' being proportioned to allow this, assisted by the bevel 33. The members 30, 30, having the flanges 31, 31' serve the double purpose of strengthening the corners of the cover 3 and guiding and holding the base 2.

g It will be noted that by the foregoing construction, the means for holding the base 2 in place are withdrawn close into each of the four corners of the opening of the cover 3, and are therefore better protected from damage and less likely to catch on clothing or other objects than if they projected at some intermediate location along the sides. With this same end in view, the projecting ends of the flanges 31, 31 are rounded at 3'4, 34: so as to diminish the possibility of anything hooking, catching or tearing upon them. By the foregoing construction the base 2 is securely held at each of its four 7 1," In a typewriter carrying case, the com- I bination of a cover, a removable base adapted to" form one wall of the case and together with the cover complete the enclosure of the case. a handle attached to the cover, sockets in the base for the feet of the typewriter, forked members adapted to engage the feet of the typewriter on three sides and hold them in the sockets, said forked members opening on the side toward the handle, the cover, sockets and forked members being proportioned so that the cover will limit the movement of the feet to less than the depth of the forked members so that they cannot be disengaged from the forked members when the cover is in place.

2. In a type writer carrying case, the combination of a cover,/a removable base adapted to form one wall of the case and together with the cover complete the enclosure of the case, a handle attached to the cover, sockets in the base for the feet-of the typewriter, forked members adapted to engage the feet of the typewriter on three sides and hold them in the sockets. said forked members opening on the side toward the handle, and latching means adapted to be closed around the fourth side of the typewwriter foot to retain the feet in the forked members.

3. In a typewriter carrying case, the combination of a cover, a removable base adapted to form one wall of the case and together with the cover complete the enclosure of the case, a handle attached to the cover, sockets in the base for the feet of the typewriter, forked members adapted to engage the feet of the typewriter on three sides and hold them in the sockets, said forked members opening on the side toward the handle, latching means adapted to be closed around the fourth side of the typewriter foot to retain the feet in the forked members, the cover, sockets and forked members being proportioned so that the cover will limit the movement of the feet to less than the depth of the forked members so that they cannot be disengaged from the forked members when the cover is in place.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 20th day of April, 1927.

WALTER E. BARNARD. 

